The Solution

The Autism Trust is focused on this challenge: to develop a new care and support model for children with autism and their families.

Our solution is to provide an inspirational and sustainable new environment to support children with autism when they leave education.

Our rural community model will house around 50 residents in individual private accommodation. This will form the heart of our Centre of Excellence in Autism where training, health, medical and developmental support; plus business, technology and administrative activities will take place.

The Centre of Excellence will be open to many more people in the wider world of autism as an outpatient resource. The adjacent organic farm will have horticultural and agricultural activities and will encourage local community engagement.

Children with autism will be able to visit The Autism Trust’s Centre of Excellence and spend time experiencing horticultural and farm life. Visits from Special Educational Needs schools will be encouraged.

Children will also be able to visit the Wellness Centre where resident and visiting nutritionists, doctors and therapists will be practising.  We will have behavioural, educational and developmental experts to provide further support.

Young adults will visit with their schools as they approach leaving age so that they can learn additional life skills and start to explore vocational options. We will give them experience in growing crops and flowers and working the land.

However, we also recognise that people with autism have potential in many vocational areas including business administration, design and technology, catering and retail.  So we will also offer relevant work experience and NVQ courses.

Young adults will also be able to access the resources of the Wellness Centre through close relationships with their schools and carers.

Around 50 ‘post-18’ residents will be able to work in a variety of roles to suit their capabilities and developmental needs including the farm, offices, retail and catering.  They will be helped to fulfil their potential and will continue to learn life skills in a safe and supported community.

Finally, we will hold regular workshops and certification for teachers, parents & carers and will have visiting experts to help people living and working with autism to manage and develop their skills.

Across all ages, expert nutritionists, therapists and medical practitioners will tailor personal programmes.